“He that has an ear” — Revelation Chapter 2 – Basic Training Bible Ministries

As we study the message of Christ to the seven churches, we will do well to keep in mind four interpretation aides given by Dr. C. I. Scofield:

Local meaning—these are seven actual churches existing in John’s time and to which he ministers.
General meaning—these conditions may be found in churches throughout the Church Age, and this gives us a key for evaluating a local church by the “mind of Christ,” (1 Cor. 2:16).
Personal meaning—each message includes the challenge “to him who overcomes” and “[him] who has an ear.” Thus, we can evaluate our own lives by this.
Prophetic meaning—these seven churches are chosen in this order to illustrate church history from the time of John to the Rapture.

Two major trends are seen running through this account. First, there is the purifying process going on for those who are true believers—the “overcomers” by faith, 1 John 5:4–5. Second, there is an increasing apostasy of dead human religion. At the Rapture, the Body of Christ is removed, but apostate Christendom goes on to become the “great whore” of Revelation 17.

Ephesus—Revelation 2:1–7

The church of Ephesus was founded by the Apostle Paul (Acts 18:18–21; 19:1–20). John came there before the destruction of Jerusalem and made Ephesus the center of his circuit ministry. “Ephesus” means “beloved,” yet this church is rebuked for losing its love for Christ. They had many good “works” but had “fallen” from their occupation with the person of Christ.

Historical Ephesus illustrates church history from 35–100 AD. Note Satan’s attempt to infiltrate the church through the Nicolaitans. The word comes from niko (“to conquer”) and laos (“the people”). This attempted establishment of a “church hierarchy,” which distinguished between “clergy” and “laity,” was repulsed in the first century.

The warning to the believer who “has an ear” and would be an “overcomer” is to constantly maintain personal fellowship and love for Christ as the greatest of spiritual priorities. Obviously, we can only love the Living Word by loving and living the written Word. Revelation 2:5 gives the road of recovery as remembrance, repentance, and return to first acts of love for Christ. Here, we see the beginning of the cooling process leading to the Laodicean church.

Note:

Commended for endurance, their stand against false apostles and the Nicolaitan heresy.
Condemned for reversionism—the “first love” from which they had “fallen” was the sound doctrine of the book of Ephesians.

Smyrna—Revelation 2:8–11

“Smyrna” means “myrrh,” which was a gum or resin that was crushed to give off a fragrance. Myrrh was also used in embalming the dead. This church was persecuted and suffered greatly. Christ greets them as the One “who was dead, and came to life.” This poor church was rich in God’s sight, for they were faithful in spite of suffering, slander, and death. They are promised the “crown of life” (James 1:12). Note here Satan’s two-fold attack of external persecution and internal infiltration by legalistic Jews whom Christ calls the “synagogue of Satan.”

One of the great martyrs of Smyrna was the Pastor Polycarp, who was a student of John. He was burned at the stake, and won the crown of life!

Historically, Smyrna represents Church history from 100–300 A.D., a period of great persecution by Rome. At this time, Christianity was despised by the world as a collection of ragged, poor, deluded people, yet they were rich before God. When we come to Laodicea, we find a large, rich, respected church that is naked in God’s sight. Is there any question where we are today?

Note:

This is the edified church.
This suffering church endured the most and lasted the longest.
Encouraged but not condemned.
Smyrna had many great teachers and a maximum number of believers in maturity.

Pergamos—Revelation 2:12–17

“Pergamos” is a compound word meaning “married, exalted.” Pergamos was a rich, influential city of Asia Minor. Yet the church was worldly. She is greeted by Him “who has the sharp two-edged sword,”—the Word of God (Heb. 4:12). She has permitted the infiltration of three heresies. One, Satan had set up his throne here. We find that the teaching of the Babylonian mysteries were actually carried to Pergamos about 133 B.C. These teachings begun in ancient Babylon, would in time become so assimilated by Apostate Christianity as to become “Mystery Babylon.” Pergamos was the center of Caesar worship. Second, the doctrine of Balaam had gained a foothold (Num. 22–25). This was basically a teaching of compromise with the world—Balaam taught Israel to intermarry with the heathen—thus a “marriage” of the Church and the world. Third, the Nicolaitans who were repulsed by Ephesus are accepted in Pergamos.

What begins in apostasy as “deeds,” develops into “doctrines,” which in time becomes “denominations.” The overcomers will receive the “hidden manna,” the deep things of Christ (John 6:31–33; Col. 1:26), and the “white stone,” representing the vote of approval from God.

Historically, Pergamos represents church history from 300–500 A.D. Constantine made Christianity a “state religion” so that it became joined to the heathenistic practices of Rome.

During the period of this apostate union, Damasus, the Bishop of Rome (an unbeliever) was given the title of Supreme Pontiff of the Babylonian mysteries which came to Rome from Pergamos. Thus Satan’s program to “assimilate” the Church through infiltration took a great step forward. This was the age of “heresy,” yet even here there were “overcomers” who stood against the tide, and died a martyr’s death!

Note:

It is the “surrounded” church.
Pergamos was one of the most evil cities of the Ancient World. It was here that Satan had his headquarters on earth.
There were many strong believers in Pergamos, but they were surrounded by religious apostasy.
They are condemned for allowing apostasy into the church. Idolatry and rituals of ceremonial sex had infiltrated the church.

Thyatira—Revelation 2:18–29

The Son of God greets this church with flaming eyes and feet of judgment! Though there is some approval in Rev. 2:19, the church has become a haven for “Jezebel,” an actual woman who became prominent as a teacher and led people into idolatry and immorality. Though God gave her “time to repent” she would not. She is a preview of the “great whore” (Revelation 17) and so will be cast “into great tribulation” along with her children, i.e., apostate Christendom.

Even in Thyatira some remained faithful, Rev. 2:24–29. They are to hold fast to truth and are promised great authority in Christ’s kingdom for standing against the usurped authority of this Jezebel. They will be decorated with the “morning star,” the reflected glory of Jesus Christ (compare Dan. 12:3, 2 Pet. 1:19).

Historically “Thyatira,” which means “continual offering,” speaks of the age of Romanism, 500–1500 A.D. In Romanism the “once-for-all” sufficiency of the cross is denied for a continual offering of works, penance, and sacraments as a means of salvation. Just as Jezebel will not repent, neither will this system of idolatry as the “Babylon” of the future (cf., Jer. 51:8–9, Rev. 18:4). The “deep things of Satan” are the Babylonian teachings perpetuated by the Roman Church.

Note:

Again, commended for production and service under pressure.
However, again as others, condemned for allowing apostasy to enter, along with demonism and occult practices.
Warned to hold fast.

Gene Cunningham - September 7, 2022

The Outer Darkness Controversy - Part Three

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The outer darkness controversy argues that unfaithful believers are either kicked out of heaven, or are not allowed near the King (Jesus, Son of God) in the Kingdom. This is the third video addressing this topic. Please go to the “Jesus’ Roadmap” Playlist in the channel and review the first two parts is you’ve not seen them yet. Matthew 25:30, and an example, contains this phrase and is a problem passage for some. Good Biblical interpretation method insists and looking at how Jesus, as documented in Matthew, provides contrasts in His parables. Covered previously, in Matthew 8, with Jesus’ use of “outer darkness” there, Jesus makes a distinction between believer and unbeliever. We know this because the parallel passage in Luke 12:46, uses the phrase “unbelievers.” Realizing other parables in Matthew using “outer darkness” may present the same issue, in this video, we look closely at Matthew 21:33. Here, it says, “There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard.” Hopefully this sounds familiar. Jesus continues telling the parable, “He said a hedge around it and he dug a wine press in it.” The minute Jesus started this teaching, most Jews would’ve realized he was adapting Isaiah Five story elements; they should have known it well. Jesus continues, “He dug a wine press and built a tower, and he leased it to vinedressers, and he went to a far country.” Jesus often used a familiar framework, but changed something within the parable, and so he changes here, the vine dressers taking care of the vineyard. He went into a foreign country. It says, “When the time came, he sent his servants to the vine dressers that they might receive its fruit. The vine dressers took a servant and killed one stone another. He sent other servants more than the first. They did likewise to them.” Who are the servants here? The Old Testament prophets. He's talking to Israel. And He sent the prophets to them. In Matthew 21:37, it says, “At last he sent his son, and they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ And they caught him. They cast him out of the vineyard, and they killed him.” Isn’t that what they did to Jesus? It is very easy for us to understand, of course, who He's talking about here. Jesus wraps up with a question to His audience, “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do with those vine dresses?” Jesus let them interpret His parable and guess what? They got it right. “They said to him, he will destroy those wicked men miserably and leases vineyard to other vine dressers who will render to him the fruits in their season. Jesus said to them, ‘Did you never read in the Scriptures?’ The stone, which the builders rejected, has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing and it is marvelous in our eyes.’” The conclusion is in Matthew 21:43 which says, “Therefore, I say to you, The Kingdom of Heaven will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.” Who is that nation? The church – “a people who are no people?” You will remember that Moses, in Deuteronomy 32, told Israel this was going to happen. In summary, Moses said, “You are a wicked and a stiff neck people, and you are going to continue to rebel until God is going to scatter you among all the nations of the Earth. And He will call those who are no nation to provoke you to jealousy.” In Matthew 21:44 Jesus says, “Whoever falls on this stone will be broken. Whoever on whom ever it falls, it will grind him to powder.” What is the difference between being “broken” and “being ground to powder?” I would simply say that the someone that is broken, is humbled over the person and the work of Christ, and someone that's “ground into powder” is an unbeliever that is going to be utterly judged. Would you agree? Matthew 21:45 is revealing. It says, “When the chief priest in the Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them.” It's not too hard to figure out who he's talking to, is it. So, is the contrast in this parable between faithful believers and unfaithful believers? No. We’ve demonstrated the contrast in Matthew eight between faithful and unfaithful believers? Here, the theme of this parable is also between believing and unbelieving people. Yes, this Matthew 21 parable has elements of faithfulness and fruitfulness, but that is not the point that Jesus is driving when talking to the Pharisees who rejected Him.